Contract

Bio

Prior to coming to North America, Stanislav Lascek spent a very short time cutting his teeth in the Slovakian pro ranks. In 2002-2003, at 16, he played 19 games with HKM Zvolen's 1.liga farm team, scoring 2 goals and 6 points, and appeared in 1 game with their Extraliga team. That summer he was selected 10th overall in the 2003 CHL Import Draft by the Chicoutimi Sangueneens of the QMJHL and crossed the Atlantic to pursue his dream of one day playing in the NHL. In his rookie season he played at a nearly point a game clip scoring 17 goals and 57 points in 59 games in the regular season. In the postseason, he had 5 goals and 18 points in 18 playoff games. Despite his production Lascek went unranked by the NHL Central Scouting Service and undrafted by 30 NHL teams at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Undaunted, Lascek dedicated his offseason to working with Brad Richards' former skating coach on his speed and in 2004-2005 he improved his statistical output to 18 goals and 90 points in 53 regular season games and 4 goals and 22 points in 17 playoff games. He also appeared for Slovakia in the 2004 U20 World Junior Championships posting 1 goal and 2 points in 6 tournament games. Convinced, the Lightning selected Lascek in the 5th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. In the Fall he was invited to participate for the Lightning in the 2005 Traverse City prospect tournament where he had 1 assist in 4 games. Afterward he returned to Chicoutimi where he scored 47 goals and 135 points in 64 games, good for second in the QMJHL, and he was named a Second Team QMJHL All-Star. In addition, he made his second appearance for the Slovakian U20 World Junior Championship team leading his countrymen in scoring with 6 goals and 9 points in 6 games.

Lascek was signed by the Lightning during the summer of 2006 but a groin injury limited the amount he could play during training camp and contributed to his assignment at the start of the year to Johnstown of the ECHL. Lascek dominated with the Chiefs scoring 12 goals and 27 points in 25 games at the ECHL level before moving up to the AHL. In Springfield, Lascek managed just 2 goals and 4 points in 29 games spent primarily on the third line before injuries forced him to miss much of the last couple of months of the season.

Scouting Report

Strengths:

Has incredible vision similar to the Lightning's Vaclav Prospal and Brad Richards. He's a smart player who finds passing lanes other players can't, and he has the ability to make tape-to-tape passes to take advantage of those lanes. His shot is satisfactory, but he's an opportunistic scorer. His future is as a playmaking winger who can play the point on the power play.

Weaknesses:

Lascek lacks ideal NHL size and speed, but makes up for his lack of quickness with his intelligence and positioning. He could use a heavier shot. Lascek will also struggle in physical games, though he's used to being a target in the Q.

Projection:

Lascek projects as a potential scoring line winger at the NHL level who will get significant power play time.

The website is also reporting that Lightning prospect Stanislav Lascek, who has spent much of this season with Mississippi of the ECHL, has agreed to play next season for Zvolen in Slovakia. Lascek, who was drafted as an overage player in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, finished second in the QMJHL in scoring in his final year of junior hockey but has been underwhelming in two seasons of professional hockey that have been spent largely in the ECHL.

Milley's departure leaves an opening for a veteran forward to be retained or signed for Norfolk of the AHL next season. Milley leaves the Lightning organization after three seasons which have included 182 games split between Springfield and Norfolk of the AHL and 14 games of NHL service with Tampa Bay during the 2005-2006 season. Milley has scored 63 goals and 154 points in his 182 games of AHL service with the franchise. He will be missed.

It is not completely clear what Lascek's status will be given that he still has a year left on his NHL Entry Level deal. Whether or not the Lightning retain Lascek's rights, it does appear his departure may give the Lightning some relief on the 50-man roster front where potentially difficult signing decisions need to be made for currently contracted prospects Mike Egener and Marek Kvapil and minor league contracted players Adam Henrich and Rob Klinkhammer.

Ryan Munce stopped 26 shots as the Sea Wolves defeated the Columbia Inferno 4-2 Saturday night. Munce was named the game's Third Star capping his 13th win on the season. The Sea Wolves, down 1-0 after the 1st, score three 2nd period goals. Mississippi's top line of Marek Kvapil, Ryan Menai, and Jason Tejchma continues to produce as they started the scoring 3:26 into the 2nd frame.

Ryan Munce stopped 27 shots and Marek Kvapil scored the game winner on a breakaway as the Sea Wolves defeated the Columbia Inferno 2-1 Thursday night. Munce was named the game's First Star while Kvapil earned Third Star honors. It was Munce's 12th win on the season, and it was Kvapil's third goal and fifth point in his first two games back in Mississippi after spending a couple of weeks in Norfolk. Head coach Steffon Walby seems to have found a lethal line combination in Kvapil, rookie and All-Star Ryan Menai, and Jason Tejchma.

The Sea Wolves wasted no time putting the 0-3 road trip to Texas last weekend behind them as they scored 7 straight goals against Pensacola, hanging for an 8-5 victory Tuesday night. Marek Kvapil, fresh off a reassignment from Norfolk, earned Third Star honors as he poured in 2 goals and 2 assists. None of the other Lightning prospects assigned to Mississippi were in the lineup.

The Florida Everblades spoiled Mississippi's homecoming after a 30-day, 10 game road trip by defeating the Sea Wolves 5-4 in a shootout on Friday night. The Wolves scored three third period goals to knot the game in regulation including Lightning prospect Stan Lascek's 4th marker of the season at 3:06 of the 3rd. Lascek fired a game-high 10 shots at the Blades netminder.

Former Lightning prospect and Detroit Viper Konstantin Kalmikov scored twice for the Ice Pilots as Pensacola handed Mississippi another road loss by a score of 5-2. After a hot start upon returning from his pre-season injury, Stan Lascek is slumping offensively.